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	Illinois Diocese Cited in Own Report By Kevin McDermott St. Louis Post-Dispatch [Springfield Ill] August 3, 2006 http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/special/srlinks.nsf/story/ FFE6460FE6BAF195862571BF0079125C?OpenDocument An internal investigation of the Catholic diocese that includes Madison County acknowledges that "a culture of secrecy" has protected diocese priests who engaged in sexual and financial misconduct. However, in presenting the report to the news media on Wednesday, Springfield Diocese officials and the investigator they hired declined to reveal who some of those priests were, exactly what they did, where they are now - or even how much the diocese paid for the internal investigation. In the diocese and elsewhere in recent years, some priests have been accused of criminal sexual activity, but the report focuses only on noncriminal misconduct. Among the few findings in the report that haven't been previously revealed is that diocesan computers were used "to access inappropriate sites and were otherwise employed in a manner inconsistent with the mission of the church." The report doesn't specify whether that activity involved priests or other diocesan employees. The Springfield lawyer who led the investigation declined to reveal more details on the issue during a Springfield news conference unveiling the report. The eight-page report was written by a panel of five volunteers from the diocese, including state Sen. William Haine, D-Alton. It was based on an 18-month investigation by lawyer Bill Roberts, hired by the diocese last year to investigate persistent rumors of misconduct by diocese priests. Bishop George J. Lucas ordered the internal investigation last year and hired Roberts, a former U.S. attorney, with a mandate to look into issues that weren't criminal matters but still were of concern to the church. The resulting report blames much of the diocese's systemic misconduct problems on former Bishop Daniel Ryan, who retired seven years ago under a cloud of allegations of personal and managerial misconduct. "The probe revealed former Bishop Daniel Ryan engaged in improper sexual conduct and used his office to conceal his activities," states the report. "The investigation found a culture of secrecy fostered under Bishop Ryan's leadership which discouraged faithful priests from coming forward with information about misconduct." Many of the report's findings confirmed previously publicized misconduct by priests - including one who was beaten up in a Springfield park after propositioning two young men for sex. Roberts also investigated allegations by a Springfield resident who claims to have engaged in sexual activity with Lucas, and found no merit to the allegation. The report does take Lucas to task, however, for recommending the title "monsignor" to priests who later were accused of misconduct. "The panel feels Bishop Lucas could have been more thorough in researching the character of some of those recommended," states the report. Lucas, talking to reporters, accepted that finding, and vowed to implement recommendations of the report, including audits of computer usage, and keeping in place a toll-free phone number and Web site set up to receive public complaints about priests. The "investigation did reveal some misuse of power, some serious misconduct on the part of a very small number of priests," said Lucas. ". . . I'm deeply sorry for the misdeeds of any priests whom I have placed in or allowed to remain in a position of trust in the diocese. "We can't change the things that happened in the past, but I think we're now in a position to work actively to change the future," added Lucas. "My goal . . . is to foster an environment of openness." However, neither Lucas nor Roberts would provide further details about other priests whose misconduct the investigation apparently established but which hasn't yet been publicized. Roberts said his investigation found that about eight priests engaged in some level of misconduct, but he wouldn't specify what kind, other than to say it wasn't criminal. Lucas said some of those priests have returned to leading congregations, but he wouldn't say who, or where, they are. Neither Lucas nor Roberts would reveal what the diocese has paid Roberts for the investigation. "I could. I'm not going to," said Roberts. David Clohessy, the St. Louis-based national director of Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, said: "They want to give the impression of openness without providing real openness. Any step towards openness, however late or incomplete, is a step forward . . . , (but) I'd call it a small, begrudging step." Clohessy added: "The diocese has been riddled with actual and rumored sexual misconduct for decades. Practically speaking, Lucas had to do something. But to say this signals a fundamental shift in thinking is laughable." Ryan stepped down as bishop in 1999, after years of rumors that he engaged in homosexual activities and covered up for underlings who molested children. Shortly after his retirement, those allegations were made formally in a lawsuit that was settled out of court by the diocese. Clohessy's group said, in a separate written statement: "If this panel is sincere about wanting 'openness and transparency,' it should start by disclosing Bishop Ryan's whereabouts, so that vulnerable adults living or working near him can be warned about him and protected from him." People who want to report an incident in the Springfield Diocese can call the hot line at 1-866-346-2003, or e-mail clergymisconduct@aol.com. The diocese covers 28 Illinois counties, stretching across the south-central part of the state, including part of the Metro East area.
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